Buyouts
UK - Permira acquires All3Media generating 5.5x returns for Bridgepoint
Permira has acquired a majority stake in All3Media from Bridgepoint in a deal which values the company behind Richard & Judy, Hollyoaks, Midsomer Murders amongst others, at £320m. The deal represents an exit for Bridgepoint which has made a money multiple...
GERMANY - Steadfast Capital acquires Peine Group
Steadfast Capital, alongside the company's management, has acquired Peine Group. The Wilhelmshaven-based company is a producer of business and formal wear for men.
UK - Phoenix acquires NFT Distribution
Phoenix Equity Partners announces that it has reached agreement on the proposed acquisition of the business and assets of NFT Distribution (NFT) from Northern Foods Plc in a £51.2m management buyout. Contracts have been exchanged and completion is expected...
UK - Caudwell phone group sold to Providence Equity Partners and Doughty Hanson
The Times reports that this week will see the official announcement that John Caudwell's mobile phone empire has been sold to Providence Equity Partners and Doughty Hanson.
UK - Private equity wants to muscle in on Severn Trent's planned IPO of Biffa
Severn Trent's planned IPO of its Biffa waste business later this year is no longer a certainty after a team formed by KKR and Apollo Management expressed an interest in acquiring Severn Trent. The bid for the company would be in the region of £5bn.
ROMANIA - GED completes Romanian deal
GED Private Equity, a mid market investor in Iberia and South Eastern Europe, has acquired a majority stake in four Romanian mobile phone distributors in a EUR 4.5m deal. The investor plans to consolidate and rebrand the companies at the beginning of...
UK - New developments in Birds Eye auction
The £1.2bn Birds Eye auction is reported by the Sunday Times to have a new competitor following the teaming up of Kerry Foods with Blackstone and JP Morgan Partners. Kerry Foods is Ireland's eight largest listed company and is one of the largest suppliers...
UK - Hermes set to acquire Beacon Bingo chain
According to a report in the Sunday Times, the private equity arm of Hermes is set to acquire Thomas Holdings, the parent company of the Beacon Bingo chain.
SPAIN - Carlyle and Vista Capital acquire Iberostar for EUR 800m
Carlyle Group, which had already signed an agreement of intention to purchase tour operator Iberostar, has partnered with Vista Capital, the private equity firm backed by the Banco Santander, in an acquisition deal reportedly worth EUR 800m.
UK - LDC acquires digital dictation specialist BigHand
Digital dictation specialist BigHand is targeting rapid global growth after being bought by a management team backed by LDC. London-based BigHand supplies software that allows users to dictate directly onto their firm’s computer network from anywhere...
SPAIN - Advent acquires Euroloc
The global private equity firm Advent International has announced the acquisition of Euroloc de Maquinaria S.L., a leading equipment rental company serving the Spanish construction sector, from Fides Capital and family shareholders.
GERMANY - Brenntag goes to BC Partners
Bain Capital has sold chemical distribution firm Brenntag GmbH to BC Partners for an undisclosed sum. The deal remains subject to approval from the cartel authorities. Bain Capital intends to retain a minority shareholding in the company following the...
UK - Promethean Investments acquires Cambria Automobiles
Private equity firm Promethean Investments has invested £2.6m as part of the management buy-in of Cambria Automobiles Ltd (CAL) and Sudbury (Swindon) Ltd.
ITALY - Capitalia Sofipa acquires half of Lediberg’s capital
Capitalia Sofipa Sgr has recently acquired a stake in the marketing product manufacturer Lediberg via its funds Sofipa Equity Fund and Sofipa Equity Fund II, in a deal reportedly worth EUR 25m. The private equity firm has taken a 49.9% stake and the remaining...
UK - Endless acquires Peter Black
Peter Black, designer and supplier of footwear, cosmetics and gifts to Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Next has been acquired by Endless. Peter Black was taken-private in 2000 by its management team.
ITALY - Private equity consortium to buy stake in Pirelli Tyre
Gruppo Banca Leonardo, the investment group formed by dealmaker Gerardo Braggiotti, is part of a banking association set to buy a 39% stake in Pirelli Tyre later this week.
FRANCE - Apax Partners agrees to buy FTMSC from France Telecom
Apax Partners has signed a agreement to acquire 100% of France telecom Mobile Satellite Communications SA (FTMSC).
GERMANY - Barclays Private Equity buys into shipping packaging solutions
Barclays Private Equity alongside company management has acquired a majority stake in Pliening-based Ratioform Gruppe. The financial investor bought its stake from Thomas Krieg, who will retain a 19% participatory stake in the company, with the management...
ITALY - L Capital buys Piazza Sempione
L Capital, the private equity arm of the group LVMH, has acquired a majority stake in Piazza Sempione, a high-end fashion company, from its founding family. The consideration has not been disclosed.
FRANCE - KKR in exclusive talks for PagesJaunes
According to press reports, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts has entered exclusive negotiations with France Telecom for the acquisition of its 54% stake in telephone directory business PagesJaunes, for EUR 3.3bn
UK - Barclays Ventures backs MBO of Lakeview Computers Group
Barclays Ventures has backed the management buyout of Lakeview Computers Group Ltd, a leading player in the development and maintenance of enterprise resource planning software systems. The business, which generates an annual EBITDA of over £2m, was...
SWEDEN - Procuritas buys North Trade
Procuritas Capital Investor III has acquired a majority shareholding in meat products importer North Trade AB. Going forward, North Trade plans to launch new products and expand geographically.
SPAIN - All eyes on Pullmantur
A number of private equity firms are courting Pullmantur, one of the primary tourist divisions of the group Marsans. The travel operator, specialised in tours, cruises and charter flights is looking for a financial partner willing to buy between 30 and...
UK - Takeover dilemma for McCarthy & Stone
The largest builder of retirement homes in the UK, McCarthy & Stone, recommended a joint offer by Permira and Barclays Capital earlier this week. However, now a rival consortium made up of HBOS, the Reuben brothers and West Coast Capital has indicated...